For the Dodgers, Dan Haren is a $10-million insurance policy

The Dodgers hope Dan Haren pitches like he did in his last 13 games (6-3, 3.14 ERA) for the Nationals last season.

The Dodgers hope Dan Haren pitches like he did in his last 13 games (6-3, 3.14 ERA) for the Nationals last season. (Ralph Freso / Associated Press)

Steve Dilbeck

Want to know exactly how great it is to be the Dodgers these days? You can afford a $10-million insurance policy.

Meet Dan Haren, insurance. And yet more evidence of how polar opposite the Guggenheim Dodgers are from the ones taken into bankruptcy by Frank McCourt.

The Dodgers have agreed to terms with Haren on a one-year, $10-million deal. If he passes his physical – probably not as automatic as with most signings – he could become their fifth starter.

If he pitches like he did in his last 13 games (6-3, 3.14 ERA, .224 opponents batting average) for the Nationals, at this winter’s rates, he’s a bargain. If he pitches like he did in his first 18 games (4-14, 5.79, .297), he’ll be a bust.

So the Dodgers are taking a flier on Haren. He doesn’t cost them a bunch of years to back up prospects and doesn’t cost them a draft pick. Just money, which is the one thing the Dodgers have used to their full advantage since Guggenheim arrived.

Last year the Dodgers went to spring training with eight starting pitchers and ended up needing like 323. More is better.

Haren is from La Puente and still lives in Southern California. Part of his early struggles with the Nationals was attributed to his missing his wife and children, who remained here.

He’s 33, so if his shoulder and back and hip check out, the Dodgers can gamble he will return to the form he finished last season with. If Billingsley and Beckett do return, and effectively, Haren can become a $10-million long man or get traded.